Narrative:
The Alumnae Centennial Library was designed by Jens Fredrick Larson, an internationally known architect and author of Architectural Planning of the American College (1933).
Larson designed buildings for some thirty colleges, including Dartmouth College, where he was resident architect (1919-1920), lecturer (1926-1931), and developer of the college's master plan (1919-1952). He was a partner in private practice from 1926-1969.

The Alumnae Centennial Library served as the college library for forty years, and was home to the Graduate School of Sacred Theology (1943-1967), founded by Sister M. Madeleva Wolff, C.S.C., (1887-1964), the poet-president of Saint Mary's College (1934-1961). This was the first school of theological study for women. As such, the Alumnae Centennial Library building is an important symbol of the contributions of the Sisters of the Holy Cross to the education of women. The term "centennial" refers to the 1941 centenary of the founding of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in LeMans, France. Saint Mary's College was established in 1844 as a college for women, which is its current mission.

The Cushwa-Leighton Library designed by Evans Woollen, Indianapolis, Indiana, replaced the Alumnae Centennial Library as the college library in 1982, and Evans Woollen redesigned the Alumnae Centennial Library as the Haggar College Center in 1982. Woollen added an addition to the rear of the 1940s building that serves as the entry-level college bookstore and a second level outdoor terrace. The structure is among the most beautiful on campus and faces Lake Marian, a man-made rectangular lake with an island and fountain that is one of the focal points of the campus.